Blocking MYC gene turns aggressive pancreatic cancer cells less aggressive

Researchers at NYU Langone analyzed 443,451 single cells from 62 pancreatic tumors and found clones with differing aggressiveness. Suppressing MYC activity in basal cells returned them to the less aggressive classical form and made them more visible to immune cells.

• 443,451 single cells from 62 tumors in 56 patients analyzed
• Each tumor held an average of 2 to 11 genetic clones
• Blocking MYC shifts cells back to the less aggressive form
• Some clones show high TIGIT and suppressed PD1, explaining weak immunotherapy response